Vulnerable Medical Student Ecosystems: Transdisciplinary Learning Sciences Interventions, Maximizing Student Learning and Promoting Mental Health

Medical students (MS), as a focus of investigation, are usually the last group that would be considered as suffering from mental health issues. However, the literature shows otherwise; MS suffer debilitating anxiety and depression which worsen with the progression of their studies. The literature also highlights the medical school curriculum as a significant cause of the elevated stress, anxiety, and depression levels within the MS population. This article explores the vulnerable nature of MS by focusing on the nature of the medical school’s hidden curriculum and culture, highlighting its impact on the entire medical education ecosystem and the MS. This article, then, investigates the three dominant epistemological belief frames in medical school which impact the vulnerable nature of MS. Finally, this article presents potential interventions, targeting the need for cultural change that may contribute to the creation of a more compassionate learning ecosystem to build the MS’ mental resilience in medical school and create a stronger medical workforce.

Investigation of Epistemological Beliefs and Creativity Fostering Behaviours of Prospective Teachers' in Terms of Various Variables

This study aims to investigate the prospective teachers' epistemological beliefs and creativity fostering behaviour and changes with the same according to various variables. The study was designed based on the relational survey model. The sample of the research consisted of 420 prospective teachers. For the purpose of the study, the epistemological beliefs scale and creativity fostering teacher index were used as data collection tools. The difference between the epistemological beliefs and creativity fostering teacher index sub-dimensions according to gender, programme and university variables was examined by "Multivariate Variance Analysis MANOVA". As a result of the research, the prospective teachers' epistemological belief and creativity fostering behaviour were found to be average. However, when the changes in the sub-dimensions of epistemological belief scale according to gender and university variables were examined, the effect of both variables was significant. The changes in epistemological beliefs according to the class and education programme were not significant. There was also no significant difference in sub-dimensions of creativity fostering teacher index scales according to gender and programme and class and programme.

A Review of Educational Views & Pedagogical Skills of Imam Abu Yusuf (738-798)

The study is to discuss how eminent Muslim educationist and scholar, Imam Abu Yusuf incorporate educational setting with epistemological belief for the prospective teachers. The dilemma of Muslim world is the inadequacy of theoretical record of such proficient teacher and researchers. The main aim of the study is to examine Imam Abu Yusuf educational contributions, his teaching methodological implications in educational setting and his educational perspective with reference to his teacher and students.

Analysis of Teacher Measurement-Evaluation Preferences from the Perspective of Epistemological Belief

The goal of this research is to make an epistemological analysis of methods used by high school teachers in teaching process and their measurement and evaluation preferences. The research is based on descriptive model and conducted on a total of 819 teachers. Data are collected through information form and analyzed with scientific statistical techniques. At the end of the analyses, it is observed that high school teachers participated in the research are partially sufficient in terms of epistemological belief; but these teachers stated that they highly benefit from the nature of knowledge while teaching a topic and conducting an exam. As there seems to be a dilemma between the statements and practices of teachers, the statements are found questionable. Participant teachers preferred the method of presentation in teaching process while they preferred conducting written exams in measurement-evaluation processes. These preferences justified the questionable point. This situation, which reveals the epistemological deficiency of teachers who participated in the research, is also an indication of epistemological discrepancy between current education programs and teachers. This indication shows that modern constructivist education programs in Turkey are practiced in a traditional sense. Putting education programs into practice by epistemologically destroying their nature is a serious risk that can prevent Turkey from reaching educational goals. It is known that constructivist approach makes significant contributions to ensure efficient education and to the process of raising creative individuals.

Investigation of Pre-service Science Teachers’ Epistemological Beliefs

The study aims to determine pre-service science teachers’ epistemological beliefs. For this purpose, the research was carried out with the participation of five fourth grade pre-service science teachers enrolled at the education faculty of a university in Kayseri during the 2014-2015 spring semester. Phenomenology design was used and a semi-structured interview including 13 items was conducted for the data collection. The qualitative data were analyzed via content analysis by developing codes and themes based on the five epistemological belief categories. According to the findings, the pre-service science teachers’ epistemological belief categories can be put in order from the most sophisticated to the most naive as follows: ‘Omniscient authority’, ‘Certain knowledge and quick learning’, ‘Simple knowledge’, and ‘Innate ability’. The findings indicated that epistemological beliefs of the participants may be at different development levels for each category. Since they reflect the individual differences, epistemological beliefs should not be ignored in developing a program and in determining classroom activities. PSTs should acquire the necessary information about epistemological beliefs during their undergraduate in order to use effective teaching methods, assessment and evaluation techniques, and teaching materials, know how to manage the classroom and what the students should focus on during the learning process, and be aware of their students’ misconceptions in the future. Keywords: epistemological beliefs; pre-service science teachers; qualitative study; phenomenology